Not done yet: Mets to seek more after busy Winter Meetings
SAN DIEGO — The Mets got here to the Winter Meetings needing to remake their roster, so it got here as little shock to the baseball world once they did exactly that. The first group to strike a big deal on the Meetings, the Mets agreed to phrases with Justin Verlander on a two-year contract shortly after touching down in San Diego. They solely saved including from there, netting José Quintana to complement their rotation and Brooks Raley for the bullpen.
It was a big haul for the Mets, and whereas these acquisitions have been essential, the group isn’t finished. New York may nonetheless add in a number of areas, with a selected emphasis on the pitching employees. Oftentimes, conversations on the Winter Meetings result in transactions within the days and weeks to observe, and the Mets determine to be no exception to that pattern.
• Justin Verlander signed a two-year, $86.7 million contract with a $35 million vesting choice for 2025
• José Quintana agreed to a two-year, $26 million contract (deal isn’t but official)
• The Mets acquired lefty reliever Brooks Raley from the Rays for pitching prospect Keyshawn Askew
1. Outfield
Even if the Mets don’t re-sign Brandon Nimmo, who has suitors throughout the league, they’ll want to determine some approach to change him. That may imply inking a nook outfielder corresponding to Michael Conforto or Andrew Benintendi and shifting Starling Marte to heart. Or it may imply signing a lighter-hitting heart fielder and attempting to reinforce their offense in one other method. Team officers have had conversations with Kevin Kiermeier, who’s the obvious goal within the latter state of affairs.
2. Relief pitching
Already this offseason, the Mets have introduced again Edwin Díaz on a $102 million contract and traded for Raley, amongst different much less noteworthy strikes. But there may be nonetheless ample room for enchancment right here. Among the numerous prospects embody reunions with Adam Ottavino and/or Trevor May.
3. Starting pitching
Kodai Senga is the title to look at. The Mets have been aggressive of their pursuit of the Japanese free agent, and it’s doable a deal may come collectively within the close to future. As issues stand, New York has a full rotation with Max Scherzer, Verlander, Quintana, Carlos Carrasco and both David Peterson or Tylor Megill. But the group is conscious of the dangers related to counting on such an outdated bunch, and Senga presents one wonderful approach to mitigate that.
The Mets gained a participant and didn’t lose anybody within the Major League section of this yr’s Rule 5 Draft, deciding on right-handed reliever Zach Greene from the Yankees. Greene, 26, struck out 96 batters over 68 1/3 innings for Triple-A Scranton final season, producing a 3.42 ERA. The Mets paid a $100,000 payment to amass him, within the hopes that he can stick of their bullpen all season. If not, the Mets might be required to supply him again to his outdated group.
“He’s got a very interesting fastball,” common supervisor Billy Eppler mentioned. “The way that it plays adds an element of perceived velocity to the hitter. So it’s not an exact ‘look at the radar gun and then judge the fastball that way.’ It’s more, ‘let the hitters tell you if it’s a good fastball or not.’ … He’s obviously got a real opportunity to make this team, otherwise we wouldn’t have selected him.”
Just as noteworthy was the truth that the Mets didn’t lose any gamers. But they did commerce 2019 fourth-round Draft decide Jake Mangum to the Marlins because the participant to be named within the Nov. 18 commerce for pitchers Elieser Hernández and Jeff Brigham. The group waited till Mangum was not chosen within the Rule 5 Draft to finish the deal.
“It’s nice to get some things in the rearview mirror, but my family who’s here asked if I could get together tonight. They kind of sent ‘lol’ after they sent the text, because they know it’s not happening. So I’m going to go upstairs and stay working.” — Eppler on Wednesday afternoon
